Sectarian Violence - Between Muslims and Christians

Between Muslims and Christians

Conflict between Muslims and Christians dates back as early as the 7th century, when Arab Muslim armies invaded predominantly Christian lands. Later, from the 11th century onward, followers of the two religions battled for the possession of the Holy Land. The first of the Christian crusades started when Byzantine emperor Alexios I appealed to Pope Urban II for mercenaries to help him resist Muslim advances into territory of the Byzantine Empire. Pope Urban II in turn urged all Christians to take up arms and capture Jerusalem. For numerous years war and violence were committed in the name of their religion.